Ventilation and dolphins liven up an easy five or six miles

According to Paul's detailed records they show that our first ever run together was exactly one year ago and he sent me the route, distance, elevation profile and mile splits as an anniversary present. That's two presents from Paul in as many days, his present of the 1972 vintage map of the Swan walk (with a face value of 10p) was also much appreciated.

East and easy was the cry and it was met perfectly by Paul and I dragged Andrew along who only came on the promise that it really would be easy. It was. We only dropped him once when we sort of speed up by mistake.

Down by the riverside there is a large round structure made out of red brick and wrought iron in the corner of a park. I inquired if anyone knew what it was for and Paul did. Nothing special it is the ventilation shaft for the Rotherhithe Tunnel!

I was soaking up the surroundings and noticed something new in one of the basins - a large wooden platform with a duck house on it. I wonder if it was claimed on someone's expenses!

Paul wanted to take me on the less pleasant, but new to me, route home and this involved a loop of the park with the Rotherhithe ventilation shaft in the corner which was actually warm as we ran by it.

Entering the king edward memorial park you could see a church in the far corner which looked inspiring and full of hope. Behind it in the grey gloom was a grim looking tower block which juxtapositioned with the church gave us a vision of heaven and hell.

This spiritual route became more biblical as we swung around the top side of the park the path to the church was indeed narrow and I got my buddies to keep looking forwards and fix their eyes on heaven (well the church) and not be distracted by the horribly view to the side. This made me think of Matthew 7:13 which is

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

Next point of note was a sculpture of a dove cut out a slab of metal by the river which got us onto peace etc.

Andrew suggested London is at it's best on a grey misty day with low visibility and he has a point. It kinna slowly reveals it's self to you with surprises everywhere and no distractions in the distance.


Down by the river at Tower Bridge is a statue of a dolphin cavorting with a nude female. Comment of the run went to Andrew here as he described this one as "Flipper's little secret!".



We tried to run past the Tower of London, but the huge iron gates were locked so the three of us were shut out firmly like barbarians at the gate. About turn and up the hill. We went past two ladies for the third time, they were taking short cuts while Paul in true running fource style always knows the longest way between two points.

Paul called the five files from the honour God arch in 43:19 which made my pace guess of 8:30s look pretty good. Andrew and I had a bit more to and from our office to the start so call it six for me.

Very enjoyable run.